Introduction
Sexual behavior is part of a person’s natural existence, which can prompt some action. Behavioral patterns change due to cultural evolution and changing perceptions about the human physical and spiritual life. With the advent of the sciences of physiology and sociology came new research on sexual patterns and came to the fore. Although sexuality continues to be taboo in some societies, trends in behavior invariably affect the perception of sex in society. This paper will discuss five trends in sexual behavior that have changed perceptions of sexuality.
Contraception
Since the topic of sexual behavior is paired with discussions of contraception and various diseases, this trend should be placed at the top of the list. For a long time, contraception as a broad practice in sexual behavior did not exist. In addition, the materials used were often reusable and unhygienic, which increased the risks of pregnancy and the development of STDs. There is an improvement in the situation: the number of adolescents using various protection methods is increasing (Lindberga et al., 2021). In addition, it has been found that the number of refusals in sexual practice is increasingly related to the reluctance of the partner to use protection. Consequently, this trend helps to keep the population of any age healthy and to control the problem of unplanned pregnancy.
Contraception has changed the population’s perception of what sexual practices should be. Using oral contraceptives for women has developed sexuality that relies on safety and more responsive partner choice. In addition, both men and women feel much more comfortable because they know the potential risks of sexual intercourse. The spread of contraception has made sexual practices safer everywhere, and sex is becoming less of a taboo phenomenon.
Attitude towards Pregnancy
Closely related to contraception are unplanned pregnancies, which can be life-threatening in countries where abortion practices are excluded. There is a decline in the number of women who want to get pregnant before 30 and before marriage (Slaymaker et al., 2020). It means that with the advent of sex education and free access to contraception, more women have shifted their vector from having children to gradually developing life and then a family. Moreover, it has also led to an increase in sexually active women who are not planning a pregnancy anytime soon (Slaymaker et al., 2020). Although religious traditions and the arrangements of many families continue to halt the conscious approach to preparing children, the current awareness trend is changing the perception of sexuality.
Sexuality is becoming a trait dissociated from pregnancy: sexual education indicates that having children is not a necessary part of the sexual act. Sexuality is no longer part of the forbidden fruit, as women have developed healthier approaches. Consequently, education became a factor in the transformation of consciousness on the part of women. It spared this part of the population from being sexually dependent on potentially having children.
Age
The entry of adolescents into sexuality is associated with various factors; among these, the perception of sexuality in the society in which they are growing up stands out. Information resources make adolescents less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior (Roberts et al., 2021). Nevertheless, it has been established that since the middle of the 20th century, there has been a decrease in the age at which sexual heterosexual relationships are entered (Lewis et al., 2017). Sexual experience and sexual intercourse increasingly occur in conjunction rather than separately. It is probably due to changes in ideas about what sexual intercourse should be and why it is worth having intercourse.
The decrease in the age of sexual intercourse is a cause for concern. For example, it could be because the development of the porn industry has led to an unhealthy perception of sexual practices. Sexuality for boys has become the result of a desire to fulfill themselves in life, while for girls, it has become a demonstration of adulthood (Miller et al., 2018). For teenagers, there has been a shift in focus on what body can be sexual and what body is not suitable for sexual intercourse. Consequently, adolescents are increasingly resorting to unhealthy practices to enhance sexuality. It is troubling that adolescents engage early in sexual practices without knowledge.
Level of Sexual Activity
The sexual activity reflects the frequency with which people engage in sexual intercourse and what sexual practices are used to do so. It is reported that from 2000 to 2018, there was a significant increase in sexual activity among men and women (Ueda et al., 2020). In addition, it has been noted that income levels directly impact the frequency of sex among men. The historical significance of this trend is that changes in sexual activity levels are most often associated with increases in population well-being. A society that can seek medical assistance and counseling on time will resort to sex more often because they are confident in their abilities.
The growth of sexual activity has meant that sexuality is no longer a taboo phenomenon. Sexual practices of various kinds received support and approval as medical, psychological, and sociological counselors could explain the process’s normality (Ueda et al., 2020). The sexual activity allowed ideas about sexuality to evolve through prevalence and the involvement of the whole society to adapt to it. In addition, the high level qualified for establishing that sexuality is a fluid term, and its dynamism is habitual.
Orientation
Orientation is always a part of sexual practices and has become the head of many current trends. Homosexual and bisexual practices have always existed but have been boycotted or denied because of culture or religion. These practices existed in Greek, Indian, and European cultures. Nowadays, orientations other than heterosexual are not forbidden in most democracies. There is an acceptance of sexual identity outside of heterosexuality among the younger generation (Xu et al., 2021). The search for identity is becoming more relaxed, and more and more young adolescents are freely resorting to it (Carvalho et al., 2017). Whereas there was no recognition of homosexual and bisexual orientations in the last century, this is now regular practice.
Recognition of orientations outside the heterosexual spectrum has allowed for the development of healthier attitudes toward sexual activities and sexuality. Adolescents could declare their orientation and act safely when engaging in sexual activity. In addition, notions of what sexuality is have evolved from stereotypical heterosexual images of men and women to increasingly diverse images. Recognizing multiple orientations has spurred the population to concern themselves with health, education, and openness.
Conclusion
Thus, sexual behavior is a differentiated term reflecting sexual activity and practices. Observable trends in the use of contraception, attitudes toward pregnancy, age of consent, sexual activity, and orientation have allowed sexuality as a concept to evolve. Instead of the traditional patriarchal definition, sexuality is now perceived as a dynamic term describing healthy sexual practices and safe behavior. The declining age of sexual activity is a concern, but sex education has made teenagers more confident and has reduced the risk of unplanned pregnancy or STDs.
References
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